Hellickson was added to the active roster Monday ahead of his start against the Mets, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hellickson will join the Nationals' rotation in place of the struggling A.J. Cole. Hellickson had a poor season in 2017, posting a 5.43 ERA and a 5.77 FIP. Cole set a very low bar to clear in his first two starts, though, with a 12.00 ERA and an 8.50 FIP. Joining the Nationals gives Hellickson the opportunity to earn more than his fair share of wins, though he'll have to pitch better than he did last year or else the team will start looking for other options.

Hellickson will start Monday's game against the Mets, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rather than send A.J. Cole to the mound, Hellickson will make his first start of the season Monday. Hellickson started a combined 30 games between the Phillies and Orioles last year, over which he posted a lofty 5.43 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. He'll be recalled prior to Monday's game, at which point the Nationals will announce a corresponding move.

Hellickson is almost ready for full-time starting duty, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran has made starts at extended spring training and continues to throw side sessions, but it seems like he's built up his pitch count enough to push for a big-league rotation spot. It's unclear if he'll take A.J. Cole's spot in the rotation or not given the latter's improvement in his most recent appearance. However, things should clear up as Cole's next turn in the rotation approaches.

Hellickson will make his next minor-league start Saturday, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

There has been some confusion as to where Hellickson will pitch, but he is scheduled to pitch in a minor-league game Saturday in preparation for his 2018 debut.

Hellickson will likely make his next start with Double-A Harrisburg, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander is listed on the Senators' Opening Day roster, making it apparent that he'll spend a bit of time there while building up his inning count rather than extended spring training as previously reported. No word has come forth as to how many tune-up starts Hellickson will make before potentially joining the Nationals, though he does appear to have a good shot at being the team's fifth starter given A.J. Cole's struggles in his first start.

Hellickson will make another start in extended spring training Sunday, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

He threw 92 pitches on Monday, so it's not necessarily an issue of building up his workload but rather getting more consistent. It's unclear how many more tuneup outings he will need before he is an option to joint he Nationals. A.J. Cole gave up 10 earned runs in 3.2 innings in his first start of the season Tuesday, so once Hellickson is ready, he could take Cole's spot as the No. 5 starter.

Hellickson made an extended spring training start Tuesday, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Nationals hope to get him up to 80 or 90 pitches in extended spring. Once he's fully up to speed, he could join the big-league roster, either as a long reliever or as a fifth starter in place of A.J. Cole.

The Nationals released Hellickson on Saturday and re-signed him to a minor-league contract, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

This was Washington's plan all along, as the club's choice to release Hellickson allows the club to avoid paying him the retention bonus he would have been owed had he been kept past Saturday on his original contract. Hellickson, who tossed four innings of one-run ball in his Grapefruit League debut Friday against the Marlins, will likely remain with the Nationals at extended spring training for another week or so to build up to a starter's workload. Once the Nationals determine he's ready to go, Hellickson could be added to the 40-man roster and replace A.J. Cole as the team's fifth starter.

Hellickson allowed one run on three hits and a walk over four innings while striking out four in Friday's split-squad game against the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

It was his first game action of the spring, and the 30-year-old looked good against a less-than-intimidating Miami lineup. Hellickson won't be ready for Opening Day after signing with the Nats in mid-March, but Friday's performance suggests he isn't too far behind the rest of the staff. Whether he gets a chance to fill a rotation spot will depend on how A.J. Cole looks through his first few turns rather than anything Hellickson does on the mound, but the veteran could still get back to the majors in a long relief role even if Cole doesn't stumble.

Hellickson is "way behind" the rest of the Nationals' pitchers and is likely to remain in extended spring training to start the season, the Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hellickson was a late addition to the Nationals, only joining the team as a non-roster invitee on March 16. He'll get up to speed in extended spring training before joining the team in the bullpen or as a fifth starter.